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New releases by Chuck Leavell, Big Walker, and Mary Bridget Davies. Exclusive IPR recordings will take us back to February's Friends Blues Blowout for a set by Trampled Under Foot and the Blues On Vinyl segment includes records by Johnny Shines and Big Walter Horton

Lots of new releases including the latest by Magic Slim, Lisa Mann, and Robert Cray. Exclusive IPR recordings will take us to Cedar Rapids for a set by zydeco master Chubby Carrier at the 2011 Linn County Bluesmore Celebration, and the Blues On Vinyl segment has records by Bobby Bland and Otis Spann.

Often promised, finally delivered, it's The 60s British Blues special! From it's founding fathers John Mayall and Alexis Korner to the next generation bands Foghat and Fleetwood Mac and including the British Invasion blues bands like The Yardbirds and Rolling Stones. Blues with a British accent!

Eureka I found it! I recently discovered an interview with the late Blues Hall of Famer Luther Allison that I did on Aug. 27, 1980. I have been searching for this full interview for three decades. This week, hear the full interview and out of print music from this blues icon.

Lots of new releases including the latest by Cee Cee James, Lisa Mann, and James Armstrong. Exclusive IPR recordings of Iowa bluesman Bryce Janey. And the Blues on Vinyl segment has 80s records by Joanna Conner and Johnny Copeland.

New releases from Quintus McCormick, Robert Cray, and Marion James; Iowa blues from Catfish Keith and Skeeter Lewis; exclusive IPR recordings of Shane Dwight and some Blues On Vinyl from Charlie Mussellwhite and Fenton Robinson

All exclusive Iowa Public Radio recordings from festivals/events from around the state including Chubby Carrier at the 2011 Bluesmore celebration, Trampled Under Foot at the 2012 Friends Blues Blowout, and Patrick Hazell at the 2004 Sturgis Falls celebration.

On this week's drive down Blue Avenue we'll step into the Way Back Machine and spend the entire program with music from the most classic of blues eras, the 50s, with tunes by the most classic of blues performers including Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Jr. Wells, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, just to name a few.

Lots of new releases including the latest by Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, and Little Feat. Plus exclusive IPR recordings of two-time Iowa Blues Challenge winners The Avey Bros and the Blues On Vinyl segment includes records by Albert Collins and Slim Harpo.

Eureka I found it! I recently discovered an interview with the late Blues Hall of Famer Luther Allison that I did on Aug. 27, 1980. I have been searching for this full interview for three decades. This week, hear the full interview and out of print music from this blues icon.

All exclusive Iowa Public Radio recordings from festivals/events from around the state including Chubby Carrier at the 2011 Bluesmore celebration, Trampled Under Foot at the 2012 Friends Blues Blowout, and Patrick Hazell at the 2004 Sturgis Falls celebration.

The blues bus heads down Blue Avenue towards the Quad Cities for an overview of next weekend's Mississippi Valley Blues Society 3-day festival. We'll hear music from 18 of the artists at this year's fest including Kenny Neal, Coco Montoya, Lady Bianca, and Guitar Shorty

New releases by Dr. John and Sonny Landreth, Iowa Blues from Catfish Keith and Skeeter Lewis, Exclusive IPR recordings of Shane Dwight and some 80s blues on vinyl by Walther "Wolfman" Washington and slide guitarman Roy Rogers.

New releases by Chuck Leavell, Big Walker, and Mary Bridget Davies. Exclusive IPR recordings will take us back to February's Friends Blues Blowout for a set by Trampled Under Foot and the Blues On Vinyl segment includes records by Johnny Shines and Big Walter Horton

It's the annual recap of the Blues Music Awards given out by The Blues Foundation in Memphis on May 10. We'll hear from 22 of the 26 BMA catagories including Best New Debut Artist, Best Traditional Blues Album, The B. B. King Entertainer of The Year, and Band of The Year.

The latest releases by Peter Karp & Sue Foley, San Francisco's Tip of The Top, and Canada's Treasa Levasseur; exclusive IPR recordings of Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Alter Boys at the 2010 Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids and some blues on vinyl by Homesick James and Otis Rush.

Three times a year, Blues Revue sends out a "sampler CD" to their magazine subscribers. The latest is out now and we'll hear tunes from that disc by Beverly McClellan and Shawn Starski. Also new releases from Joan Osborne and the late Pinetop Perkins. Plus exclusive IPR recordings of zydeco music master Chubby Carrier at last year's Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids.

This week, it's Blues In A Box! Selections from CD and vinyl blues boxsets including The Cobra Records Story, The Complete Robert Johnson Recordings, Hoochie Coochie Men-The History of UK Blues, and The Chess Blues Box all in the mix.

New blues releases from Contino, Watermelon Slim & Super Chikan, and Iowa Bluesman Rush Cleveland. Exclusive IPR recordings will take us back to the 2011 Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids for music by Perry & The Pumpers. And the blues on vinyl segment has records by Hubert Sumlin and The Seigal/Schwall Band.

New blues releases by Curtis Salgado, The Daddy Mack Blues Band and Swiss bluesman Philipp Frankhauser. Exclusive IPR recordings of Louisiana swamp bluesman John Lisi at the 2011 Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids. And the blues on vinyl segment includes records by Johnny "Clyde" Copeland and Duke Robillard

It's all about blues the way it was made to be played: LIVE in front of an audience! Joe Louis Walker on the Legendary R & B Cruise, Luther Allison in Paris France, Muddy Waters at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago, and exclusive IPR recordings of Grammy Award winner Chubby Carrier at last summer's Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids all part of the mix!

New releases by Nick Moss, Dion, and The Daddy Mack Blues Band, exclusive IPR recordings of Bryce Janey at the Campbell/Steele Gallery in Marion, and vintage blues on vinyl by Otis Rush and Freddie King.

Lots of new blues releases including the latest by Janiva Magness, The Heritage Blues Orchestra, and Hamilton Loomis. Plus, exclusive IPR recordings of Deanna Bogart at the 2010 Linn County Blues Society Bluesmore celebration and we'll hear blues on vinyl by Otis Spann and Otis Rush.

After six weeks of surveying the nominees for this year's Blues Music Awards, it's back to a more "normal" show. Lots of new blues releases including the latest by Otis Taylor, Nick Moss, and the late Eddie Kirkland, plus exclusive IPR recordings of Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Alter Boys at the 2010 Linn County Blues Society Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids and some blues on vinyl by Electric Flag and Sleepy John Estes.

We continue our 6-week survey of nominees for this year's Blues Music Awards from the Blues Foundation by hearing selections from all the nominees for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of The Year and Contemporary Blues Album of The Year. Plus, hear exclusive IPR recordings of Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band at the 2011 Linn County Blues Society Bluesmore Festival and new releases from Big James and the Chicago Playboys and Iowa's Candymakers.